Chapter 2: Start of silence

After their first meeting in spring, there was little interaction between Cloud and Tifa. They had simultaneously decided to avoid any form of communication, when Elmyra had not purposefully rubbed them onto each other.

When Tifa fell off a stool in an attempt to reach the candy jar on the top shelf, she sprained her ankle. Cloud was the chosen nurse; and despite several attempts to reject the offer, Elmyra had her way of making him. However, that did not stop him from dutifully giving Tifa the biggest cast there is, making her physically immobile, yet ironically, has nothing to do with her injury.

When Cloud was sent for a haircut, Elmyra snipped the entire tied-up section of his hair; the only thing holding his extremely spiky hair in place. Tifa was the helper; despite her job being to spray water as Elmyra recreate Cloud's hair; she had, quite unceremoniously burst out laughing while Elmyra snipped away. She had, to be exact, screamed out "Chocobo", while bursting into fits of laughter. Strangely, Cloud had liked his new hairdo. He had muttered "Swag" while he looked into the mirror with his new hair. Something only Cloud would understand.

When Tifa attended cooking lessons with Aerith and Elmyra, she had burnt everything flammable and inflammable. Cloud on the other hand, attended Wu-Shu classes with Elmyra's friend, Zangan; who was renowned for his competence in fighting. The smoke from the kitchen reached the yard where the boys were practising, and they had to help put out the fire with water carried in pails, 4 pails on each side, balanced on a long pole; Master Zangan named it "Special Training – Buckets to the rescue". Cloud then nicknamed Tifa "Kitchen Disaster".

When Cloud skipped classes with his excuse of; I went to the garden, and since the soil looked dry, I spent the whole day watering them so that they would look as beautiful as you, Elmyra!; did not exactly work out right, and Cloud was paired with Tifa for the Christmas ball. To Cloud, the Christmas ball in Nibelheim Home was the failure of the century. Tifa helped with the cooking, period. Tifa flattened his feet in the dance, period. Tifa was there, Period.

Similarly, their first summer, autumn, winter passed. The second too; thereby followed their third, fourth and fifth. They are now twelve.

Cloud, at twelve has become even more silent, but has evidently grown mature. The rare occasions he spoke were to Tifa, were to remind her not step into the kitchen, or to tell her that the sky-blue striped panties she wore was torn, and she should wear diapers instead. On those rare occasions, Tifa would tell him to stop styling his hair; for it might potentially impale someone, not that she would mind, when the policeman locks him up. Of which he would reply that she would be the first to face his wrath.

To Zack, Cloud was livelier, which made him closer to Zack and Aerith; sometimes Tifa would wonder why Mr. Chocobo was so bipolar, then she would stop to correct herself, that the only thing wrong about him, was everything. Therefore, nothing really, is wrong.

This day, however, was a drastic change to their lives of ignoring each other. They had been grouped together, by Elmyra of course, to go for Mt Nibel expedition together. A bravery test and some sort of Nibelheim Home tradition for children aged twelve. Rude and Rufus conquered Mount Nibel two years ago, Aerith and Zack last year, and now, it was Cloud and Tifa.

Tifa was eleven, but since Elmyra concluded that Tifa would not be able to climb Mount Nibel alone next year, she was to climb Mount Nibel with Cloud this year.

. "I don't do things like waiting." He stated, while trotting forward, up the steep slopes of the mountain.

"Not even if I said I will slip and die?" Tifa Exclaimed, her breathlessness meddling with her head. "I'm a girl! Girls do things like being waited for!"

"No." Came his short reply, as his figure diminishes.

"WAAAAIT!" Tifa heaved, desperate and scared.

Tifa scrambled down the twisted path, they are lagging behind time already. Elmyra was not able to keep an eye on everyone of them, but Tifa was sure that she would not allow anything bad to happen to her. Tifa continued on, and after what felt like a decade, she felt a pebble hit her head.

"Owww!" She glared.

It was Mr I-Don't-Wait. He sat silent on a huge rock on her right, apparently, he did what he said he do not.

"You waited?"

"Wrong. I napped."

With one swing, he jumped off the rock and landed beside her. "But your awful voice and crude curses woke me up."

"I don't curse." She rebutted, before stopping herself. "You're not all that bad after all, huh?" she smiled. She knew that her face was stained, from the couple of falls before reaching him, and was probably all dirty, nevertheless she was so glad to have found Cloud.

"Hmph. I do whatever I like." He turned and continued, leaving her to trace his footstep with hers.

She staggered behind him, trying to keep her mind on her footsteps.

"Maybe we could be friends." She said to him, just loud enough for them to hear.

She waited for his reply, and when he did not, she continued, "Well, I want to be friends with you! You're a nice guy inside."

No reply.

"Okay, we're friends now." She stared at his figure, walking effortlessly through the curved mountain trail.

She continued blabbering about friendship and teamwork, while he continued to ignore. Of course, Cloud has ultra hearing, and he knew everything she said, but it seemed useless to reply. Yet he could not deny that a new friend is a good thing; and it managed to ripple the waters of his heart, giving it a little warmth, just like Zack and Aerith had, when they became his friends.

After some time, he found himself replying her. Though not exactly enthusiastic, a good start nonetheless.

"Cloud, you don't mind me calling you Cloud right?"

"Better than those nicks."

"Well, since we're friends, I'll tell you what I like and hate about you," She giggled, "and then you do too!"

"...I have a list of hates. Bring it on." He found himself comfortable speaking around her, not due to desperation, or being forced, but just like a little breather when in stress, she had a calming effect. Something he had to admit, felt good around her; Perhaps it was her almond shaped eyes, what opens widely above her cheekbones, or the long lashes that fans around her eyes, or the soft smile that was always painted on her lips.

"You always make fun of me. You called me ugly. But you are a nice guy, you waited for me."

She confessed, smiling, her optimism was always a part she honoured. "Your turn."

"You are ugly, annoying. Your panties have sky-blue strips."

"And the good thing about me?" Tifa ran up to him, stopping him in his track by standing in front of him.

"You smile." He muttered.

"Huh?" She heard something, but she could not really make out what it is, with all the cricket noises around them.

"You smile, Tifa" He said, louder this time, his icily metallic eyes shone under the shade, and he continued forward.

The remaining trip, they walked in silence.

When they arrived at the rope bridge just before the steepest of Mount Nibel; there was a small clearing where Elmyra waited for them with her cucumber sandwiches. A chance where orphans are given a chance to explore, he thought, under a veil of "Tradition".

The cucumber sandwiches were heavenly, for once, he was glad Elmyra tried out a new recipe. Adventures rarely fascinate him, and to try a new recipe was one. He prefers to have things stay the same way as it always is, he liked the reassurance that constant brings. Then again, the only constant is change; perhaps that was the reason why he did not interact with others much. The fear of them leaving him behind was too great to overcome, as an orphan; he knew abandonment since young, a term close to his heart, a term that broke him.

"It's really delicious, Elmyra." Tifa smiled, and hugged Elmyra around the neck. Her feelings for Elmyra had deepened over the years. Though Cloud was sure that it was not of motherly kinship, it was a significant friendship and reliance. "Thank you."

"What about Cloud? Do you find it nice?" Elmyra asked. Cloud on the other hand, resisted change in their relationship; Elmyra had noticed, but it did not stop her from trying her hardest to infiltrate into Cloud's dark heart. To Cloud, Elmyra was just the owner of the Orphanage he lives in; she owns him, she deserves his respect and his obedience, but not his heart.

"Better than what Kitchen Disaster could ever make."

Tifa, Cloud and Elmyra sat, quietly under the shade of the tall trees by the clearing. It was a simple afternoon, just like every other day in Nibelheim, simple with little change, the perfect place for the orphans.

According to Nibelheim Home tradition, if they returned to the orphanage now, they would be granted free access to Nibelheim village, and if they continued upwards, to the summit, and manage to pass the test of the mountain, they would be granted free access, anywhere. Meaning, Cloud could leave the orphanage for as long as he wants to, and as far as he wants to. He will no longer be obliged to "Home".

When their little picnic ended, Cloud stood up and announced, "I'm going to climb".

"Up to the summit?" Elmyra asked, slightly disheartened at his resolve to break away.

"Yes, up the summit. She-" He pointed at Tifa, "can stay with you, or you can bring her back." He shrugged, "See you later."

With that, he turned around and walked off, leaving the two females dumbfounded. Elmyra had never thought Cloud would want to leave them so desperately. She had known that Cloud was a quiet boy, but she too, had always believed that, somewhere in Cloud's heart, the Home had a permanent place, deeply rooted and secured. She never thought he would one day blow it all away.

Tifa on the other hand, did not know what was going on. Were they going to continue climbing? Why do they need to climb? She knew that Mount Nibel was a tradition, but what was with Elmyra's reaction?

Nevertheless, she knew that she had to follow him. She wanted to. She had always misunderstood him, five years; despite him being a jerk to her, cracking crude jokes about her, she was not going to let all that wash away that kindness she had saw within him. The reason why he stayed to treat her sprained ankle, how he pulled her away from the burning kitchen, how he always reminded her not to commit the same mistakes again, (though he put it off in a mean manner, she had always known that he had a kind heart; yet, it was a shelled heart.)and how he had waited for her, though not admitting his actions.

"Elmyra, I'm going with Cloud. He will protect me, don't worry" Tifa placed a reassuring hand on Elmyra's arms, the same touch Elmyra had given her on her first day.

"Are you sure?" This time, Tifa could see tears in Elmyra's eyes. Though she was not exactly sure why, Tifa knew that she had made up her mind. Will Cloud really take care of me? Maybe not, but I'm going.

"Yes."

"Cloud. Wait for me!" Tifa rushed behind him, an inexhaustible meter between them that Tifa tried to close.

"Why are you here? Go back." Cloud turned around, though it occurred to him that he was not exactly surprised that Tifa followed him. It was a dangerous trail, those who make it back down, were the luckiest, and cloud was not sure that he had the luck with him.

"Why? We should go together!" Tifa exclaimed, weariness apparent in her tone, but her stubborn character would not let her show signs of weakness.

After fifteen minutes walk from the clearing, the mountain trail ended. From now on, they had to depend on their own instinct and make out a road; Cloud was not ready to give up, he was sure that the destination was close. So sure it hurts; for the summit seemed so close yet so far.

Thirty minutes down the road, and Cloud tried to walk a straight path; maybe they were lost, instinctively, Cloud marked out their trail.

One hour and Cloud's calves started to ache; he looked back and saw Tifa drenched in perspiration, still trying to keep up, about 3 meters behind.

One and a half hour, and Tifa could feel tears brimming; she was tired, dirty and scared. Cloud was about 4 meters away, a diminutive shadow.

Desperate, Tifa tried to walk more hastily, pulling her worn out body forward. "Cloud... Are we there yet?" She asked, aloud, curious of the answer and trying to make him notice her.

"No. Soon enough."

"Cloud, should we go back down?"

"You can."

"Will you?"

"No."

Another couple of minutes passed, and the distance between them closed despite her slowing pace. In her heart, she thanked Cloud. She quickened her pace and pushed herself forward, until they are only a meter apart. Then it happened, she lost her footing and fell.

She knew that she had fallen, a long stretch, yet something deep within her heaved a sense of relief, and she closed her eyes.

When she awakened, she found herself rested on a flat surface, in a dark cave. Her body was arched perfectly with her head on a higher ground and her back rested on something soft. The next thing she realised was some ragged clothing tied around her forehead and her limbs. Apparently someone had attempted to take care of her wounds.

When she turned around, she saw a streak of golden ray reflected off some uneven surface.

Cloud rested against the wall of this cave, a knee fitted against his chest, his arms wrapped around it while the other rested flat on the ground. His head was buried against his raised knee, he seem to be resting.

"Took you long enough. You slept like a pig."

Tifa flinched, surprised at his words, and her whole body ached.

"What happened?"

Cloud stood up and walked over to her, pulled out her right arm and inspected her injury before letting it go, falling by her side.

"Nothing much, you just ruined everything, that's all." He commented, his tone filled with ice, yet she could feel a tinge of warmth sip through into her heart. "You feeling fine?"

Tifa nodded her head. She felt fire burning in her cheeks. Did Cloud looked so fine before? All along she thought he looked like a girl but now… He really does seem more mature.

"Hmm..."

They stayed in the silence, awkward drowned the atmosphere. They had hated each other for years; it was not easy to talk. Sounds of water dripping filled the cave, somewhat melodious; somehow, it did not seem to fit the situation.

"I was brought to Home when my parents died in a car crash." She said, trying to break the silence. It was a secret she never told, yet when she told him, it felt correct. For once, she needed someone to share. "It was stormy. And in Nibelheim, stormy is scary."

"I figured." He said, his eyes locked with hers as he recalled her first day.

"I was locked in the car for two whole days, mom and dad's corpses rotting beside me." She swallowed, as her voice croaked. "I didn't try to get out of the car. I wanted them to take me along."

"I don't remember mine much." He muttered, soft, yet enough for both of them to hear. "Only that she had told me to wait for her there, beside Home's gates. I sat beside the gate for a day and a night, before collapsing, then Elmyra took me in. I was 3 or 4, I don't remember much."

Neither of them said anything after, but when she stood up and walked over to him, he did not shift. Then they sat together in silence. A silence that for once seemed comfortable; as they waited for time to pass, they seek company in this silence.